Rightfully yours

I received an email the other day sent to Undisclosed@yahoo.com.  Now that’s personal.  I normally don’t even open those emails that go to my junk folder, but I decided to look at this one.  They always have people smiling in their graphic.

This one was advertising the eBay Success Starter Kit.  The promises included that you would be able to make several hundred dollars a day on eBay.  The kit being sent included free wholesale sources that you can sell on eBay.  They would also instruct you on how to sell other items to people who bought from you.  This is called up selling, a common practice in retail (would you like fries with your burger?)

All this sounds great on the surface.

I decided to do a Google search for “eBay Success Starter Kit review” to check out other people’s experiences with this company.  The fact that the email came to “undisclosed” recipients was my first tip-off that this was suspicious.  I have not had great experiences with companies that do “email blasts” that send out many, perhaps thousands of emails at a time, hoping for some sales from their front page claims and pictures of smiling people.

The initial cost to have the kit sent to you was $1.95, but I think that has now been raised to $2.95, which is not too bad initially.  However, in the small print, if you do not cancel within seven days, you agree to pay $39.95 per month if still enrolled past the seven-day period.

Google comments highlighted some interesting information.

They are selling information readily available on the Internet.  This might be OK for people who do not want to spend the effort to look up the techniques themselves.  eBay is pretty simple, and the site offers extensive education.

The scam is in the timing.  The seven-day period begins the instant you click and agree to the terms.  Even if the kit was mailed at that moment, it would probably take three to five days to arrive giving you maybe two days to evaluate.  Complaints indicate the package is only mailed after the $39.95 is charged to your card.

Comments indicated that the package actually arrives 10-14 days later, past the 7 days, and you are charged $39.95 for the first month.  Even if you call and cancel immediately, they have already charged your credit card.

Complaints also indicated that the customer service number was either always busy or had a recording to wait for the next available agent who never answers.

An actual complaint from my Google search:

“I ordered the eBay success system on May 10, 2009 for $1.95 shipping to try at home risk-free for 7 days.  I received the kit on Friday, May 22, 2009.  I was told I would receive it in 1 to 5 business days.  I received it in 10 business days.  The $1.95 went through my credit card on May 12, 2009.  Five days later on May 17, 2009, before they shipped me the kit for my 7 days risk-free trial a charge for $39.95 went through my credit card.  I was charged before they shipped my 7-day risk free kit.  The customer service number listed on my credit card statement 800-744-2576 has been busy for four days, night and day.  I gave up after four days.  The customer service number listed online is answered by a recording and tells you to hold for the next available agent, but no one ever answer.  I called the number several times and waited for 20 to 25 minutes each time.  It’s a big big scam.  Please do not give these people your credit card information.  Patricia Edwards, West Palm Beach, FL.”

Even if you do not order the kit, there is a “click here if you do not want to receive future offers from us.”  If you do click, you have just given them your name and email address and can expect a FLOOD of scams and offers when they sell your information again and again.

The seven-day scam is a lucrative business for people operating just this side of the law.  The kit probably contains some information that fulfills their cloudy claims.  If a victim pursued their refund through the law, I’m sure they would return the $39.95 after a long time and much effort. 

Most people however will just write it off, and there is where they make their money.  Multiply the $39.95 by a few thousand people that fell for it.  People are ashamed to admit they were taken and will hide the event from their friends and family.

I have experienced a similar seven-day scam myself.  I calculated the timing and that the only way I could get the kit and prevent the monthly charge was to cancel before the seven days.  Even though I had not received the kit, I attempted to cancel.  No contact, and no response from their listed phone number.

Five days after I placed the order, I called my bank and filed a fraud alert, not to accept any more charges from this company.  The bank issued me a verification number in case the bank inadvertently processed a charge.  The only thing that bothered me was that they had my credit card information, but the fraud alert took care of that company. 

My kit contained what they said, but was nothing new.  I would have canceled anyway.